Marrow Match Sought For Boy, 5

Keith Feliciano doesn`t know what the lyrics mean, but he loves the group from the Dominican Republic that sings them.

Keith, who turns 5 next month, also doesn`t know that the words hit close to home for his parents: If you go, my heart will die.

Keith has aplastic anemia and needs a bone marrow transplant or he will die.

Friends of the family, The Latin Chamber of Commerce of Broward County and the American Red Cross are sponsoring a blood drive today for people who have pledged blood donations. Because bone marrow tissue type can be determined through blood samples, they are hoping a compatible and willing donor will be found. The blood donations will go to the Red Cross.

Tony and Lillian Feliciano, of Lauderhill, do not have bone marrow compatible to their son`s. Their older son, Jason, 12, also is not a match.

``Doctors tell us that the chances of finding a match is like winning the lottery,`` Lillian Feliciano said.

Keith, diagnosed with the disease in August, was placed on a national registry by Memorial Hospital in Hollywood two months ago, but nothing has turned up.

``His marrow has stopped producing cells, and we need cells to fight infection,`` said Tony Feliciano. ``The only way we keep him alive is through transfusions every 10 days, but they can only do that so long.``

Dr. Philippa Sprinz, who has been treating Keith at Memorial, said a transplant is needed soon. But the registry of donors does not include many minorities.

``Because he`s Puerto Rican, chances of locating a donor for him through the registry are not as good (as it is for people of European descent),`` she said.

That`s why local drives are important, Sprinz said.

The $200,000 transplant would be performed at All Children`s Hospital in St. Petersburg if a donor is found.

Meanwhile, Keith, who attends day care at The Inverrary School in Lauderhill, tires easily toward the end of the 10-day cycle that ends with a transfusion.

``Whenever I go to Sawgrass Mills, I make a wish in the wishing well that I`ll get better,`` he said.

TO HELP

--TO BE TESTED: Any group interested in scheduling a blood drive to find a possible donor for Keith Feliciano, who suffers from life-threatening aplastic anemia and requires a bone marrow transplant, can call the Red Cross at 587-8499. Individuals interested in being tested for bone marrow type can call 1-800-448-3543, ext. 439. All blood donations go to the Red Cross.

--TO GIVE MONEY: A trust fund has been set up to help the Feliciano family with medical costs, in care of: Keith Anthony Feliciano, Capital Bank, 1799 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 33311. Terri Byron is the account representative.